a weblog of my opinions, travels, life's woes, interesting stuff i come across on the internet. you are welcome to comment or complement! don't forget to share anything interesting on Facebook, Plus or Tweets. enjoy!

Tuesday, 25 August 2009

For those of you who haven't watched it - Kaminey is a Vishal Bhardwaj movie. Vishal Bhardwaj of the Maqbool, Omkara fame as also Makdee and Blue Umbrella - two of the best children films made in recent times.

Vishal doesn't make apologies in his movies. He shows blood, gore in full measure. But there is just one line he refuses to cross - a line that would have catapulted the films to macabre and maybe mediocre - and staying within that line his movies somehow turn out to be brilliant. The complex emotions, situations, dramas, climaxes that Kaminey portrays are the hallmark of all Vishal Bhardwaj movies.

Kaminey is an intensely complex movie. It is fast paced - but with brilliant editing there are hardly any loose ends. The movie is all Shahid Kapur (wonder what he did previously to inspire such confidence in the producer/director). It is the role of a lifetime for Shahid Guddu Charlie Kapur. And the movie is all about villians too. There are villians of all hues here. No middle path grey villain. All the villians, the "hail Maharashtra" criminal politician; the race course fixers, gun crazy and nutty Bong brothers; the international drug cartel leader; the intensely corrupt Narcs Officer - all of them are dirty, corrupt and deadly.

On a dark, dreary, rainy night all these people come together in a hunt for Guddu and / or Charlie. It was also the night Guddu was getting married (to Priyanka Chopra) and Charlie incidentally discovered he had Rs 10 crore of drugs in his possession. Guddu and Charlie happen to be identical twins with slight speech handicaps. One stammers and the other lisps. Some of the finer Shahid Kapur moments are when he lisps S as F - Jab Fell phone ko Fell phone kehta hai!

Among the characters - Amole Gupte ar Bhope is deadly, Priyanka comes across well in whatever little her role demands and Shahid Kapur is not brilliant - just okay. It doesn't look likely that his portrayal will be as acclaimed as Irfan Khan's in Maqbool or Saif's in Omkara. One character that I really liked was Mikhail (Chandan Roy Sanyal).

The movie ends in a crisply executed climax and one is left looking forward to watching it all over again - to catch those fine VB moments one may have missed in the first watch!

Tuesday, 11 August 2009

Watch this Sonu Nigam Mimicry video. This is a video of a young Sonu Nigam taking on colleagues in an episode with Johhny Lever in Johnny Aaley Re. It sure is a fun video and an antidote to all the H1N1 gloom! Enjoy.

Friday, 19 June 2009

It has been quite a long time since I last blogged here. Pretty remiss of me! If I start a blogging site - its my responsibility to keep it updated. Mea Culpa. But I have reasons. I had guests at home - lots of guests. I have been travelling - lots of travel too. Singapore, Langkawi, Redang, Cameroon, Mumbai - so dear readers, you can except a lot of boring details and updates soon!

What has happened in the time I have been away? The fake IPL player has not revealed himself, Susan Boyle has not won Britain's Got Talent, India has not won the T20 World Cup, there is no coalition Government in India and Laloo is not Railway Minister (I know I have never covered poilitics - but Indian politics is still news I have to follow since I feel it concerns me). Of course much else is happening around - but I have not even followed the online trends to keep anyone updated. Mea Culpa again!

The stock market is up. Hoorah! I have not looked at my investments for some time now. Will need to do it soon. I have read plenty of books though. I finished a Jeffrey Archer and a Georgette Heyer, an Agatha Christie and loads of Mills and Boon. Now many wouldn't count this as reading. I beg to differ. Just write a Mills and Boon to prove its trash. Its not a easy matter to describe a tall, handsome man in fifty different ways not a blonde, brunette, auburn haired girl with green eyes and attitude differently every time and keep your readers engrossed! I haven't watched any movie though unless you count watching Shahrukh's Baadshah and Kal Ho Na Ho fifty times (at least, they are my younger son's favorites) with Spiderman, Hanuman and Ganesh.

But I have been happy for another reason - I am making REALLY GOOD MONEY online. How will be another blog - if and when readers persist or I can rouse myself enough to make the effort!

Thanks for your patience with my feeble attempt at blogging at this site:-)

Thursday, 30 April 2009

All those of you who have been following the IPl regularly - hope you haven't missed out on the fake IPL player's blog! Its worth reading, believe me. The "fake IPL player" apparently belongs to the Kolkata Knight Riders and gives juicy insider reports of the KKR and IPL happenings straight from South Africa. Sample what he has to say about yesterday's meeting between Bangalore and Kolkata.

"It's almost like a battle for the bottom of the barrell. Both of us have tried every rule in the book to ensure that we finish last." and more -"Entering the meeting room I got a really funny feeling. Boy George, Bhookha Naan, Phoren Babas and the entire coaching staff (which now probably is larger than the playing staff) was seated and looking at us as we entered. Somewhat like the 70s films when the worker's union went in to negotiate with the management."

He talks of a mutiny in the KKR team and how with just 11 players left no one else can be sent back! His blog is funny, acerbic, talks knowledgeably about the game, players, selectors, commentators and spares no one! He has insolent nicknames for everyone. Ganguly is "Lordy", Shahrukh is "D*ldo", Shastri is "Kishen Kanhaiya" and such. The biggest guessing game now on amongst IPL fans is to the identity of the the "fake IPL player" and he may soon have more followers than the Kolkata team. Shahrukh sure doesn't need this headache,,,or does he ith his "megalomania" ...I am not saying that, the blogger said that! Well the fake IPL player's last post has 1004 comments (including mine). So you can guess his popularity.

Who can it be? Is it Ranadeb Bose (some sections believe that) - who is with the King's team now (but he gives insider views of the KKR dressing room as you can see) or could it be Sanjay Bangar or Akash Chopra, both sent back players (the fake IPL player empathises with them and says that they shouldn't have been chosen in the first place and if chosen should have been given more than two games. He also says they are genuinely nice guys). But cant be them because the blogging continues (with more acidity if possible on their departure) from SA and they are at India. My guess is its a non-Bong Indian player (not many of those so take your pick). Whatever it is, I love the guy's style and sense of humor. Hope the KKR and IPL management too has some humor to accept it! I know there are murmers in some quarters that he is cowardly because of hiding behind a pseudonym. We all know what would have happened if he had blogged in the open - he would have been gagged before even starting and the cricket World would have lost these IPL gems.

Can't stop laughing. Go on, read his blog, and enjoy the IPL as never before!

There's a link to the fake IPL player's blog at the left!

Just a thought - is he a plant? After all can't be too difficult to find a fringe Indian player who uses a Macbook Pro, can bat a bit, bowl a bit, field like a "maniac", has not played a Test and was sitting in the stand last year!

WHO has raised the swine flu alert to pandemic level 5. Keep up with the swine flu updates at the WHO website. So far 148 people have been reported affected with the virus worldwide with 8 deaths (7 Mexico, 1 USA)

Wednesday, 22 April 2009

April 22nd is Earth Day. The Day when environment hogs the limelight, the day where all the right forums express the correct environmental concerns. When the vox populi through various media expresses its anguish over the ozone layer, the dwindling rivers, rising sea lines, carbon dioxide, toxic wastes, environmental changes, melting arctics and Himalayas, rising hometown temperature, acid rains. School students make posters and learn how far the and how fast the Mother Earth is headed towards self-destruction.

This building up of the concern was the main reason Earth Day was conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day. To get the people and politician involved and more proactive in conserving the planet. However we laymen cannot really shape the oil policies or halt the erosion of the ozone layers or the Arctic caps other than by expressing concern. What we can do, what we need to do and what we should teach our children to do are still a lot.

Here’s a small list starting at the beginning of the day.

Keep the tap shut while brushing teeth.

Walk, cycle or use public transport to work or school

Plant vegetation around the house – it provides oxygen, clean air as well as makes the house cooler.

Carry out a planned energy saving exercise at home – like Earth Hour but on a daily basis

There are many more things we can do at our level. Green guides and green products are plentily available now, both online and at stores. National Geography has a very comprehensive Green guide. Check out this link for National Geographic green guide and green products.

In developing countries, at least in India, reuse and recycle happens as a way of life. Very little gets wasted. Whether this recycling is done hygienically using the correct technology is however a matter of concern. Developed countries face a different problem. Recycle and reuse, though “correct” words are not really applied in daily life. I mean I can’t see newspaper, plastics being collected systematically from house to house to be reused! In fact people need to be paid to remove old stuff and scraps!

Thursday, 16 April 2009

My son is ten years. He wants a cell phone - now. Should I give him one?

Of late, my son has been pestering me to get him a cell phone. He first wanted the one I use and said I had better change to a new slick model. Since that was way too funny, he dropped the idea. Now he wants the slightly older Nokia Model I keep as a stand – by. His arguments interspersed with undeniable logic literally leave me gasping, with horror and shock. Horror, at his determination to wheedle a phone out of me at any cost - and shock, that he has grown up so much! Sample his logic.

He needs a phone because he might get lost. The city has recently had a spate of kidnappings. To make him more aware I made him read the articles in newspapers and gave him a long lesson of safe behavior. He goes to a tutorial and basketball after school hours a few days a week. He goes chaperoned of course. But he tells me if the Driver shows up late, he can ring me up immediately and inform me. If his Basketball gets cancelled, I can arrange to get him from school without delay. Apparently, all his classmates have perfect arrangements with their parents or have hand phones, pagers, transmitters or maybe a tie-up with the school admin too complicated for me to use! These are not his best arguments by far. Our condo lift has got stuck recently once or twice. Apparently having a cell phone would make it easier for him to get in touch with us when he gets stuck in the lift! I think he thinks of these while sleeping! When I argue that he has already lost 3 watches this year and the phone won’t last long in his hands, he tells me his friend has lost three phones and still has got a phone. This friend is two years older and uses public transport to school – if I try to point that, the argument takes an entirely new direction – his friend knows driving and driving and the car keys are the next on my son’s list!

My list of arguments is long and he has an answer to all. The only way I have got my way so far has been by bullying.

He will lose the phone – He wont, he will be careful!Phone will affect his tender brain – It affects our brains tooHe doesn’t need a phone – He does of course, badlyAll his trousers / school dress pockets are torn – I can repair themThe shorts he goes out to play in do not have pockets – I can customize them to carry a phoneHe doesn’t need one – He does, badlyHe is way too young – What do I mean by that?I cannot afford it – That’s the reason he wants the old modelHE DOESN’T NEED A PHONE, HE IS TOO YOUNG – uh puhleeeze

I really cannot fathom when he graduated from playing games on my mobile to needing a phone as a status symbol (uh-huh). And I honestly don’t know how long the bullying will work. Any ideas? When should a child start using a mobile phone?

Tuesday, 14 April 2009

Susan Boyle did a little jig, told about her household with her cat Pebbles and said she was 47 years. One could see no one took her seriously - that is till she opened her mouth to sing (I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables). One could easily see the sniggers make way to disbelief and applause. Last heard of - Simon Cowell's production label was signing a deal with her! And that is definitely not the last the Music World is going to hear of her.

The video's embedding has been disabled. Here is the youtube link to watch Susan Boyle sing.

Take this simple test of the Conficker Eye Chart by the Conficker Working Group to find out if your PC is infected with the Conficker worm. The Conficker virus is revealing more of its nefarious purposes as the financial angle and the real intention of the Online Piracy group is getting more disclosed on a daily basis. The latest news is Conficker is installing a rogue anti virus in infected computers. The "scareware" identifies threats that it offers to remove for $49.95! Read more on the threat here.

Sunday, 12 April 2009

Watch this Sound Of Music Video. This video has gone viral on the web!

This Sound Music Video is taking the net by storm. On first view this looks like a group of travelers breaking into an impromptu dance at a station on the popular Sound of Music song Do-Re-Mi. Apparently its a Dutch TV talent hunt clip shot at the Antwerp station and is staged, not an impromptu event. However the video's popularity establishes the fact that Sound of Music and Maria Von Trapp haven't lost any appeal and there are a lot of closet Sound of Music fans!

Watch this video of a Polar Bear attacking a woman at a Berlin Zoo! The woman swam the moat around the bear enclosure (to pat the Bear or what!) and was attacked by one of the four huge furry bears in the enclosure. The woman apparently wanted to meet (and shake hands probably) with Knut - the World's most famous Polar Bear!

Thursday, 26 March 2009

American Idol Top 10 (oops 11) contestants performed to the theme Motown songs mentored by Grammy Lifetime Achievement winner Smokey Robinson. The contestants sang classic Motown including two of Robinson's (Tracks of My Tears, Ooo Baby Baby). There were some great performances.

Check out some Motown songs here as well as Adam Lambert's much raved about performance of Tracks of My Tears

Saturday, 21 March 2009

How to ask for a pay raise at work is a pretty tricky business. You have been working at the same salary for some time now. You believe you are invaluable to the Company. You like to think that the Company believes the same too. You also believe you are overdue for the raise. However your Boss shows no signs of acknowledging your monetary worth. More often than not, you are the one to have to raise the issue. So how do you ask for that raise? Here are some tips to keep in mind while asking for that all important salary increase.

• You find out your worth. The best way to do it is talk with your peer group in the same profile outside your company. Or you can consider a hypothetical situation – if you were to walk out, how much salary would you be likely to get?

• If you are in sales or customer service – you can easily find out the business or repeat sales you have generated for your Company. That should form the benchmark for your raise.

• Find out inflation related changes since your last raise. Factor in the same while asking for your raise.

• Find out the growth of your Company in the past years. The surest way to show ignorance or get fired is to ask a hefty raise in a Company that is going downhill.

• Find out how much people in similar profile or rank as yours are getting in your Company. Compare profiles, job importance, responsibilities before putting up your case. There cannot be too much discrepancy in a company for people with similar profiles. However many a times – new recruits negotiate themselves to a better salary. Work this knowledge to your advantage when asking for that raise.

• Make a presentation of your case in a formal environment with your Boss. The formal appointment cues in your Boss to your seriousness about the issue. Give your Boss a figure based on your research.

Remember knowledge combined with prudence always has an advantage. And of course negotiating skills! No company likes to lose a valuable employee. The cost of hiring a new employee often works out to be higher. However, many a times one loses out on a raise due to lack of industry knowledge, insecurity or plain diffidence in talking about money.

Friday, 27 February 2009

This question has been giving me sleepless nights the past week. What better forum to open my mind than here? My parents, husband and children are biased in this regard. My Mom, because she doesn't want her daughter to work too hard, my husband - because he knows that anything he says will be thrown back at him! "You told to work, didn't you?" or "You are the one who didn't allow me to work!" So anytime I want his opinion, I am met with scowls, glares or silence. My son can’t decide whether he wants me to work or not. He wants me to work - because he is missing those extra toys, gizmos, games he was getting while I was also providing to the family kitty, as also increased time at the computer he will be getting with no one to supervise. He doesn't, because he likes to see a relaxed Mom at home when he comes back from school!

Now I will elucidate my pros and cons. First - why should I?

The offer has been literally dropped on my lap. The company is getting the work permit too.

I guess I am qualified enough and should be feeling guilty just watching movies, bickering with kids all day.

The pay is just about decent.

It’s a recession, if I am getting something I should be grabbing it!

It will be a stepping stone back into the workplace. My little kiddo is about 3 now and this seems to be the right time.

Now - Why shouldn't I take it up?

I earn a decent amount from online writing.

I am really enjoying my swimming, music lessons and will be learning French soon ;-)

My kids need me at home (sigh - do they?)

I will still be cleaning up after the kids, sitting with their homeworks, cooking, and doing a host of other things that needs to be done with three dirty boys at home - will I endure (without turning cranky) after a hard day's work?

Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Pink Chaddi (Pink Panty) is "A Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women" with a mission to send the Ram Sena and its Chief Pramod Muthalik a Pink Chaddi. Why send the Ram Sena a pink chaddi? Remember, the Ram Sena and its goons beat up young women in Mangalore for apparently going to pubs and with a dire warning not to celebrate Valentine's Day. And, hilariously, the Ram Sena says "no one from good families would resort to such cheap steps" - meaning they come from "good families" beating up women for going to pubs or dressing "indecently"! The Pink Chaddi campaign is a message that beating up Indian Women in public is against "ummm... AGAINST INDIAN CULTURE" too.

This is by far the best step Indian women and men have taken to stand up to right wing extremists and their arm twisting terror tactics! The facebook page already has more than 21000 members of either gender. You can join at Facebook here http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49641698651

Saturday, 7 February 2009

There was a time when I got the Best Valentine cards,Guys wanted to be close to me like mad.I got the best of best friends tooWho vied to pay attention to me and woo.I am 40 now and not getting young,Crying for all the love and attention and a bit of songMy husband forgets the V'dayMy son so young and gaydoes only stuff that his girlfriends say!20 years older and 40 pounds heavierOh how weary and dull life seems nowIf I was a bit thin or a lot coolI could still conquer the worldFor don’t I know it all!All of you out there, the young unsSo full of love and life and laughterPlease resist those chocolatesAs you might be me twenty years on!

Friday, 30 January 2009

There are actually two popular versions of the Mom's Song, one is by comedienne Anita Renfroe set to William Tell's Overture and another by Northland Church found at their site Morthlandchurch.net. The Northland Church version has however been removed from their site at the request of Anita Renfroe Management (was it because it became way too popular). The singer for Northland church does an amazing version of the song! The song is still available on youtube. The lyrics are onscreen - but I am putting it here so you can just enjoy the song. As you can see the song is about what a Mom has to go through in a day. I know I say the stuff the song says often enough!

Get up nowGet up nowGet up out of bedWash your faceBrush your teethComb your sleepy headHere’s your clothesAnd your shoesHear the words I saidGet up nowGet up and make your bedAre you hot?Are you cold?Are you wearing that?Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hatDon’t forget you got to feed the catEat your breakfastThe experts tell us it’s the most important meal of allTake your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tallPlease remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today?Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon

So you must playDon’t shovelChew slowlyBut hurryThe bus is hereBe carefulCome back hereDid you wash behind your ears?Play outsideDon’t play roughWould you just play fair?Be politeMake a friendDon’t forget to shareWork it outWait your turnNever take a dareGet alongDon’t make me come down thereClean your roomFold your clothesPut your stuff awayMake your bedDo it nowDo we have all day?Were you born in a barn?Would you like some hayCan you even hear a word I say?Answer the phoneGet Off the phoneDon’t sit so closeTurn it downNo texting at the tableNo more computer time tonightYour iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up

Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?Saying thank you, please, excuse meMakes you welcome everywhere you roamYou’ll appreciate my wisdomSomeday when you’re older and you’re grownCan’t wait ’til you have a couple little children of your ownYou’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willinglyBut right nowI thank you NOT to roll your eyes at meClose your mouth when you chewWould appreciateTake a biteMaybe twoOf the stuff you hateUse your forkDo not you burpOr I’ll set you straightEat the food I put upon your plateGet an egg A, Get the doorDon’t get smart with meGet a GripGet in here I’ll count to 3Get a jobGet a lifeGet a PhDGet a dose of realityI don’t care who started itYou’re grounded until your 36Get your story straightAnd tell the truth for once for heaven’s sakeAnd if all your friends jumped off a cliffWould you jump too?

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before thatYou’re too old to act this wayIt must be your father’s DNALook at me when I am talkingStand up straight when you walkA place for everythingAnd everything must be in placeStop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry aboutOh!Brush your teethWash your faceGet your PJs onGet in bedGet a hugSay a prayer with MomDon’t forgetI love you**KISS**And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never endsYou don’t need the reason whyBecauseBecauseBecauseBecauseI said soI said soI said soI said soI’m the MomThe momThe momThe momThe momTa-da

(Lyrics from lyricsmode.com archive)Here is the Anita Renfroe version as she talks about it at CBS

Monday, 19 January 2009

There's a new game on the internet. Its called nail the thief. In the game, the player gets to throw as many rotten rotten eggs as possible at ex-Satyam Boss, Ramalinga Raju. The site www.nailthethief.com and the game has become extremely popular on the net in the last few days. The game requires quick reflexes with Raju's face popping in and out from behind a panel. The setting is a typical MNC office with paneled walls. And its a slippery affair to hit Raju!

So all the people out there who have lost money or their jobs with Satyam - there's no better way to vent one's anger.

Wish there was a game that would mete out same treatment to Satyam's auditors!

Tuesday, 13 January 2009

Evolution of Dance ia a highly popular youtube video of a dance sequence by Judson Laipply on - as the title says - evolution of dance, modern dance, that is. The video, posted sometime in 2006, has 109 million hits and fast reaching the 110 million mark! The six minute highly entertaining post is the one of the top rated, most viewed youtube videos ever. Here is the EOD website.

Here's the video.

But there's more to the Evolution of Dance story. Laipply spurred on by the EOD success has launched Evolution of Dance 2. Check out Judson Laipply performing at the Evolution of Dance debut on The NBC Today show!

Monday, 12 January 2009

While on Tintin, I came across this fan site of Tintin www.tintinologist.org - the Cult of Tintin. The site claims to be the oldest and largest English Fan site of Tintin. Tintinologist has some pretty interesting resources like Tintin Books guide, Tintin characters guide, Tintin shop directory. There is even a section on Captain Haddock's curses! There are a lot of Tintin news and articles on the Boy adventurer. The forums at the site are pretty active and responses are fast and furious. Needless to say there is a raging discussion on now on Tintin being or not being gay!

Tintin just had his eightieth Birthday. And in true 21st century manner the hot topic out there is whether Tintin is Gay or Not!

Does Tintin Have To Be Gay?

There are many out there who believe that. I mean a man has to wave his sexual preferences with a red flag to be considered not gay! I am old fashioned. I believe everyone is straight unless they say they are not. Herge decided not to highlight anything about Tintin's girlfriend or women in his life. Fine. He didn't even talk about his parents, siblings, schooling, in fact anything personal. So why should he talk about his sex life. No, the people out there are just looking to fill spaces/columns with sensationalism. I think Tintin was just Tintin - a character made for adventure.

Sample what one "gay" advocate for Tintin says

"What debate can there be when the evidence is so overwhelmingly one-way? A callow, androgynous blonde-quiffed youth in funny trousers and a scarf moving into the country mansion of his best friend, a middle-aged sailor? A sweet-faced lad devoted to a fluffy white toy terrier, whose other closest pals are an inseparable couple of detectives in bowler hats, and whose only serious female friend is an opera diva..."

Saturday, 10 January 2009

I just came across this website cutelittlethingsfallingasleep.org. No website name could be more appropriate! Cutelittlethingsfallingasleep has videos of cute animals falling asleep, dozing off...At far as cuteness quotient goes, this website takes the cake...and eats it too! So go watch the video of the cute little baby fight sleep and doze off or those cute little puppies and kittens or even a baby bear go...go...go...zzzzzzzz

My friend Faryal just forwarded me this email. It's really funny and I feel I have to share it! I dont know its original source (since this mail seems to have been forwarded many times). My apologies to the original provider for sharing without permission but the message is too funny to ignore! So find out how far logic will take you:-)

My elder son is just about the age when he starts having an opinion on everything. Thankfully, he has not yet reached the age when he shuts himself out! Normally hubby and I discuss the day’s events and gossips with some amount of bitching. Of late my son has started participating. Not obtrusively of course. Just eavesdropping. Its when he doesn’t understand something and asks me the meaning that I get to know that he has been listening all along!

Like he asked me the meaning of "gay" two days back. I had to tell him Dumbledore was gay. He asked – who was he gay with. I had to say - Grindelwald. He explained to me Dumbledore and Grindelwald were just friends – how could they be gay? He further explained to me – I have a friend Kevin, we are very good friends, does that mean we are both gay? I hastened to add - of course not! Then, I am ashamed to admit – I retracted my statement that Dumbledore was gay.

So is it the time to tell a ten year old about birds and bees and human nature? I think he should learn about it in the natural course, He takes an interest in science. He watches animal planet and I am sure knows how the young uns are born. I encourage him to watch BBC and news. Am I being a coward? I have a feeling that if I try to explain about "human intimacy", I will end up looking very foolish! Children his age may know all about it, at least have an idea about it – like we did and pretended not to! So I will save myself the embarrassment, this time at least.

And something else – we have consciously stopped bitching about our friends, colleagues and neighbors in front of the kids ;-)